“He was not cleared by the PCB,” cricket board’s director international operations Zakir Khan told the Associated Press.
“I cannot give you further details, but Kaneria cannot join the team in UAE.” In September Essex police cleared Kaneria of criminal charges over allegations that he was involved in spot-fixing during a county match against Durham last year.
Middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Sami and Taufeeq Umar left for UAE to join their teammates for the test series, beginning in Dubai from Nov. 12.
Kaneria, 29, is considered a specialist test player with 261 wickets from 61 tests. He is yet to play a Twenty20 international and competed in only 18 one-day internationals since making debut in 2001. He last competed in an ODI against Zimbabwe in 2007.
The lanky Kaneria was surprised after being asked by the PCB not to travel to UAE.
“They haven’t given me any reason,” Kaneria told AP. “I received a call from the cricket board late last night telling me that I could not go the UAE.” Kaneria recently competed in a domestic T20 tournament and also took 18 wickets in two matches while representing Habib Bank Limited in the ongoing four-day, first class tournament — the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Division One.
Pakistan cricket was rocked by the spot-fixing controversy which saw three players — Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir — suspended by the International Cricket Council during the tour of England.
The ICC’s code of conduct commission rejected appeals by Amir and Butt last week, while Asif opted not to appeal.
Last month the ICC also gave the PCB 30 days to shore up its ability to prevent match fixing or face further, unspecified action.
The PCB brought in a strict code of conduct for the players competing in the T20s, one-day internationals and test matches against South Africa. All players signed a new code of conduct before they left for UAE.
